Heloise: Use caution when canning foods

Dear Heloise: I’ve noticed that when I go to the store, I see lots of canning supplies. I guess people are starting to do it again. I have done it for years. It can be some work, but in the end, it is worth it. My family loves to come over and sample my canned items, especially the jellies and fruits.

Some of the supplies you will need are good-quality jars, rings and seals, and a water-bath canner or a pressure canner. There also are items like funnels, a magnet to use to remove seals from water when sterilizing, and specialized jar-holding tongs. Here are my hints:

■ Never tap a metal spoon or utensil on the rim of a jar.

■ When unsealing a jar for the first time, use a bottle opener to pop off the lid.

■ Don’t use jars that have not been made for canning for pressure or boiling-water processing.

— A Reader, via email

You may want to be careful if you buy jars secondhand, since you can’t be sure how they were cared for. — Heloise

Dear Heloise: The handled toothbrushes can become grimy with residue from toothpaste, etc. I use vinegar, my favorite cleaner, to wipe the surface. — Margarette in Texas

Dear Heloise: I enjoyed reading your laundry hints for college students. If I can add one more thing, shake out items when moving them from washing machine to dryer, especially sheets and towels. They dry so much quicker when they are not all balled up. Love all your hints. Thank you! — Terry in Villa Park, Calif.

Dear Heloise: We have a small dog who had to have surgery with stitches. I came up with an idea to avoid using a “collar” to stop her from biting the wound: I bought a child’s sweatshirt and cut off the hood and sleeves, so she could wear it and we could take it off using the zipper. — Joan Millon, Naples, Fla.

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 210-HELOISE or email it to heloise@heloise.com.